As reported last week by cheapest.ipod.com, an estimated 600,000 Apple Macs worldwide have been infected with a Trojan Flashback virus. This week Apple announced they are developing software to detect and remove the malware.
The Cupertino-based electronic giants referred to the upcoming software in a support document released on Tuesday 10th April noting that since the malware infection was brought to their attention by Russian anti-virus firm, Dr Web, continued efforts have been undertaken in order to issue a program to resolve the potential problem for Mac users.
The hundreds of thousands of Mac machines already identified as being infected by the vicious malware virus BackDoor.Flashback.39 is found to have been caused after users are redirected to a bogus site which has been exploited by a corrupt JavaScript code. Developers at JavaScript released a security update in February to prevent further infections occurring to machines, but it is the responsibility of PC makers to issue software to remove infected systems.
Apples has already issued advise to Mac users suggesting anybody running OS X 10.5 or earlier on the PC´s to disable Java in their browser preferences. Writer for the US-based opinion editorial, The Loop, Jim Dalrymple noted that: “In addition to the Java vulnerability, the Flashback malware relies on computer servers hosted by the malware authors to perform many of its critical functions. Apple is working with ISPs worldwide to disable this command and control network.”
The Flashback Trojan was first identified in September 2011 posing as an imitation Adobe Flash Player installer in order infest the systems of desktop users. Initially, the threat was classified as “low.” However, it has since been discovered that the current version of Flashback creates a botnet that is capable of stealing personal information from unsuspecting users and delivering log in details to personal accounts such as social media, emails and online banking to the cyber-thieves.
Chief Executive of Dr. Web, Boris Sharov, has confirmed that their security program has attached itself to Apple´s server in order to monitor the spread of the virus. He went on to comment that his anti-virus firm provides services to Microsoft, but up until now has not had the opportunity to establish a relationship with the Mac makers because of the exemplary past record of protecting their users from malware attacks.
Apple are in contact with internet service providers around the world to establish improved security measures and expect the issues to be resolved sooner rather than later.
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